San Diego-based Navy ships continued their relief efforts today
off the earthquake- and tsunami-stricken northern coast of Japan's
main island of Honshu.

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan repositioned itself on
Sunday so it would no longer be downwind of radiation releases at
troubled nuclear plants.

The commanding officer, Capt. Thom Burke, wrote on the ship's
Facebook page that very low levels of radioactivity were found on
17 sailors, all of whom were treated.

"We promptly took the proper precautions and the radioactivity
was easily removed by using soap and water," Burke wrote. "The
levels that were detected were very low levels."

The captain wrote that the safety of the crew was his top
priority.

The Reagan is refueling Japanese military aircraft involved in
relief efforts and using its own airplanes to distribute supplies,
according to a Navy officer who did not wish to be identified.

Relief efforts by the aircraft carrier are focused north of
Sendai, the city of 1 million located close to the epicenter.

The cruiser USS Chancellorsville and destroyer USS Preble, also
based in San Diego, are in the region near the Reagan.

According to the Preble's Facebook page, Lt. Cmdr. Kurt
Sellerberg, the executive officer, shared with the crew reports
from pilots of the devastation in the areas affected by the
earthquake and resulting tsunami, prompting sailors to donate extra
food, clothing and blankets to the relief effort.

A half-dozen ships stationed at U.S. naval bases in Japan are
also taking part in relief efforts, and four others, including the
formerly San Diego-based dock landing ship USS Germantown, are on
the way, according to the Navy's Seventh Fleet.